Hamsters and guinea pigs can eat millet and snack on it from time to time. However, whether they will love it or hate eating it depends entirely on their taste buds. Some of these rodents have been known to absolutely love nibbling on millet whereas many others like it somewhat and some of them dislike it.
Let’s take a deeper look at this topic…
Nutrients of Millet
- Calories Present: 189
- Carbohydrate: 36 gm
- Fiber: 2.2 gm
- Protein: 6 gm
- Fat: 1.7 gm
- Phosphorus: 25% of the Daily Value
- Magnesium: 19% of the DV
- Folate: 8% of the DV
- Iron: 6% of the DV
- Sugar: (0.5- 1) gm
So Can Guinea pigs and Hamsters eat Millets: Deep Dive
Both guinea pigs and hamsters can eat millet and it is regarded as one of their favorite snacks. It is important that you offer them millet as snacks and not as the main food as the nutrition present in millet is not enough to act as a substitute for other veggies, herbs, and fruits.
So having millet is okay but you need to ensure that they are eating their food as well.
Also, millet sprays contain fat in them so having enormous amounts of millet can lead to obesity. If your little friend is overweight, feeding them millet is not a good idea. In case, you want them to put on some weight then you can offer them millet in a bit larger amount otherwise be aware of its portion size. Having the right balance of food items is very important to raising healthy hamsters and guinea pigs in captivity.
Just to be safe, it is always best to consult with the vet before introducing millet into their diet.
Why Millet are the perfect snacks for Guineapigs and Hamsters?
- The majority of the store-bought snack food or wet food items for these little pets contain preservatives and additives in them. Organic millet sprays can be obtained from stores that are free of any kind of preservatives. So it’s off entirely natural origin.
- Rodents like guinea pigs and hamsters love chewing on stuff. So for them, millet plantations are just perfect. It will serve their appetite as a snack and also help them to keep on nibbling on something in their free time.
- Millet is rich in not only fiber and good fat but also in magnesium, iron, selenium, etc.
- Millet also is known to contain essential amin0o acids like lysine along with vitamin B and vitamin C which overall will help in boosting the immune system of these rodents.
Important Points to remember while feeding Millet to your Guinea pigs and Hamsters
- Make sure to wash and rinse the millet properly after bringing it from the market. Buy ta little amount first and not in bulks, see firstly how they respond to millet. Some of them may love it others not so much.
- Only buy fully organic millet plantations that are devoid of any pesticide and chemical treatments. Make sure never to buy flavored or colored millets. These millets are sometimes sold for feeding the birds but those are absolutely No No for animals like guinea pigs and hamsters.
- Millet contains a good amount of good fat in them which is good for the well-being of the wild animals in limited amounts. At higher levels or if consumed in large amounts daily, it can lead to obesity and lead a huge list of health issues. So feed them millet sparsely only as a snack once in a while.
- Overconsumption of millet in the short term can lead to digestive problems owing to the presence of fiber and fat in them. So ever feed them millet in large amounts.
- In case your piggie and hamster have some kind of health issue, it is always best to consult with the vet before introducing any new food items like millet into their diet.
So that was it, everyone! If you have any comments let me know below…